This article is a part of the Fun in the Foothills Passport series. Download your free, printable Passport and adventure in the Western Piedmont of NC and beyond!
Welcome to the Western Piedmont of NC, an area full of rich history and amazing opportunities to reconnect with nature and your neighbors! Our area, including the cities of Hickory, Morganton, Lenoir, Taylorsville and Statesville (as well as many wonderful small towns), provides many chances for your family to make memories together while learning something new. From aviation to zoology, our museums and attractions are great places to get acquainted with our region and find your family fun!
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The Fun in the Foothills Passport and Guide is made possible by great sponsors like Chick-fil-A South Hickory. Chick-fil-A South Hickory strives to be Hickory’s preferred breakfast, lunch, and dinner restaurant. Follow their Facebook page to stay up-to-date on all their family nights, giveaways and more. Chick-fil-A South Hickory is proud to collaborate with area schools, community outreach, and churches. Please contact them to learn more about how they can help with your next fundraiser or cater your next event. It would be their pleasure to serve you and your family soon! |
Area Movie Theaters
Carolina Theater
222 1st Ave NW, Hickory, NC 28601
Enduring, circa-1934 theater showing discounted second run films in a renovated space with character.
Winner of Favorite Movie Theater Gold Daisy Award by readers from 2017-2019
Golden Ticket Cinemas
1966 Morganton Blvd SW, Lenoir, NC 28645
This theater offers first run movies, as well as a Summer Movie program.
AMC Theatre
2000 Catawba Valley Blvd SE, Hickory, NC, 28602
This theater is a classic cineplex, which also offers a BigD large-screen theater and Discount Tuesday showings for AMC Stubs members.
State Cinema
117 N College Ave, Newton, NC 28658
Open since 1950, this long-standing theater shows feature films on three screens.
Marquee Cinemas - Mimosa 7
101 S. Green St, Morganton, NC 28655
This theater is a classic cineplex with stadium seating, offering discount showings on Super Star Tuesdays and a Summer Movie program.
Marquee Cinemas -Statesville 10
1515 Cinema Drive, Statesville, NC 28625
This theater is a classic cineplex with stadium seating, offering discount showings on Super Star Tuesdays and a Summer Movie program.
Sunset Drive In Theater
3935 Sunset Boulevard, Shelby, NC 28152
This classic drive in theater is open seasonally and shows feature films on Fridays and Saturdays.
Read our review of Sunset Drive In Theater
Hounds Drive In Theater
114 Raven Cir, Kings Mountain, NC 28086
Enjoy movies from your car on the 50x100ft high definition screen at Hounds.
Newton-Conover Auditorium
60 West E 6th St, Newton, NC 28658
NCA offers interactive movie experiences and some live theatre experiences for families throughout the year.
Local Live Theater
The Green Room Community Theatre
10 S Main Ave, Newton, NC 28658
The Green Room's mission is to educate, entertain and engage, performing at Newton's Old Post Office Playhouse and throughout the community.
Winner of Favorite Live Theater Gold Daisy Award by readers for five years
Hickory Community Theatre
Part of HCT's vision is to create an artistically adventurous environment that attracts and excites diverse members of the community. HCT's RugBug performances are especially designed for young children to be introduced to live theater.
Creative Arts Show Time (CAST)
200 Timberbrook Lane, Granite Falls, NC 28630
CAST's mission is to keep live theatre a thriving art form in our community through quality, affordable productions, education programs, and outreach. Their children's shows regularly include a sensory performance.
Foothills Performing Arts
1913 Hickory Blvd SE, Lenoir, NC 28645
Foothills is the resident theatre company of J.E. Broyhill Civic Center, offering both children and adult performances.
Old Colony Players
401 Church Street, NWValdese, NC 28690
Each summer, this group performs the Historic Outdoor Drama "From This Day Forward." The drama tells the story of the Waldenses, a people from the area known as the Cottian Alps in Northern Italy near the French border, who are the founders of the Town of Valdese.
Area Live Music
Western Piedmont Symphony
243 3rd Ave NE # 1N, Hickory, NC 28601
Offering in-school performances, community Pops Concerts, and other family-friendly performances, the WPS has provided cultural enrichment for the NC area since 1964.
Hickory Music Factory
1515 12th St Dr NW Hickory, NC 28601
HMF's mission is to build futures through music. Offering regular Open Mic Nights and community performances, HMF is an excellent way for kids to cultivate a love of music.
Summer Outdoor Concert Guide
Each summer, local towns come alive with outdoor weekend concerts. From blues to pop to bluegrass, these concerts are a great opportunity to spend time with the family. This guide is updated seasonally.
Area Arena Sports
Hickory Crawdads Baseball Club
2500 Clement Blvd NW, Hickory, NC 28601
Crawdads Baseball is fun for the whole family, with regular promotions that include Kids Win Wednesdays and Friday Fireworks. A Class A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, the Hickory Crawdads have been entertaining the area since 1993.
Lenoir-Rhyne University Bears Athletics
625 7th Ave NE, Hickory, NC 28601
The LR Bears athletic program includes football, soccer, basketball, baseball, volleyball, lacrosse and much more. Check the website for schedules, and head out to cheer on the Bears.
Guide to Nature Encounters in Hickory and Surrounding Areas
If you're looking to explore nature, this guide will give you great ideas for adventures around our region.
- explore South Mountain State Park
- Stand Up Paddle Board at Lake James State Park
- Paddle Boat at Lake Norman State Park
- go geocaching in the community
- take a bike ride with the family
- discover the wild at the North Carolina Zoo
- camp in your backyard
- enjoy a staycation in "Nature's Playground," Burke County
- play a chalk game in the sunshine
- explore the Blue Ridge Parkway
- try birdwatching
- plan a day hike for the whole family
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